Golf bags

ABSTRACT

A golf bag assembly including a frame with demountable wheels ( 2 ) and wheel struts ( 5 ), wherein the wheels ( 2 ) and wheel struts ( 20 ) may be disassembled and stored inside the bottom of the golf bag, represents an improvement with respect to function and space taken up by the golf bag e.g. inside a car trunk. Such a bag may also be equipped with supporting legs, where such legs optionally, but preferably, may be extended from a resting position to an operating position for supporting the golf bag during use in an inclined, upright position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of Norwegian patent applicationSer. Nos. 20003362 and 20003363, filed on Jun. 27, 2000, and Norwegianpatent application Ser. No. 20010432, filed on Jan. 24, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the construction of a golf bagincluding a wheel assembly and optionally including supporting bracesfor supporting the golf bag in a substantially upright position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

There are known a number of different constructions for golf bags, interalia stiff and soft ones, and there are known several devices formounting both straps and/or wheels as well as supporting braces on suchbags.

A general consideration concerning such golf bags is that the bags areto occupy as little space as possible when disassembled/demounted whileat the same time being capable to include the golf clubs as well as thewheels and supporting braces.

From e.g. SE B 3.836.683 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,152 there is known agolf bag with an opening in its one end and a solid and impenetrablebottom in its opposite end, wherein the bag comprises a stiff frame anda holster and wherein the bag is equipped with demountable rollingwheels which, when disassembled, may be received coaxially with theframe in its bottom part. The rolling wheels are designed to be mountedin a demountable fashion on the frame, and the frame is, from itsopening and to its bottom, equipped with a guiding rail for a slideablehandle, and receiving the demounted wheel braces, respectively. However,although the wheels according to these constructions may be demountedand stored at the bottom or inside the golf bag, a general concern isthat the accessibility of such wheels (as well as the different partsfor the frame/carrier of the bag) is limited and the parts arecumbersome to handle when assembling the frame/carrier.

Consequently there exists a need for an improved golf bag wherein theframe and wheels are readily accessible for assembly and where theentire golf bag, when disassembled and demounted, holds up a minimum ofspace for transport in a convenient manner, and where the assembly ofthe golf bag frame together with the golf bag is done neatly andeconomically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aspects of the present invention is consequently to providethe golf bag with rolling wheels wherein the wheels are suited to bestored inside the bottom of the golf bag when disassembled and remountedin its storage mode, and where the golf bag furthermore includes aninternal space to store struts for the wheels to be mounted onto theframe of the golf bag, and wherein the bottom section of the golf bag isformed as receiving cups which between their adjacent side walls haveapertures that in is their dimensions and orientation correspond tospokes and hub in the demounted roller wheels, and preferably the rollerwheels have spokes that protrude from the hub mainly in the form of a Y,and wherein the space between cups in the bottom part have acorresponding Y-shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages relating to the invention will becomeapparent from the patent claims as well as from the disclosure followinginfra in connection with the enclosed figures relating to an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a drawing of a frame of a golf bag in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the frame from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through the line III—III in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through the bottom part of the framethrough the line IV—IV in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a wheel to be used in connection with thebag frame according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows an axial section through the bottom part of the framethrough the line VI—VI in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows, in an axial view, a release element.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show, in a larger scale, details in connection with thesecuring for the carrier strap and foldable supporting legs.

FIG. 10 shows an outline of a golf bag in accordance with the inventionwith wheels mounted.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show an embodiment of the golf bag according to theinvention including a further improvement comprising extendablesupporting legs and a securing loop for a carrier strap, with the legsin a retracted and unfolded position, respectively.

FIG. 13 shows a frontal view of a securing loop with a slideable partfor tightening the retracting wire for the supporting legs.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a side view of the securing loop in FIG. 3 with thesliding part in its one or second position, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1–10, and especially FIGS. 1–4, a rigid frame tobe used in a golf bag according to the present invention comprises a topring element 1 for the opening of the bag, a cup-formed bottom part 2and an intermediate ring element 3 being located axially with respect toeach other. The assembly comprises furthermore a number of axiallyplaced walls 4,5,6,7 running from the top ring element 1 through theintermediate ring element 3 to the bottom part 2. Two walls 4 convergetowards each other from a central area around the axis of the frame tothe external limit of the frame, wherein said external limit also isdefined by e.g. the top ring element 1 and the intermediate element 3.Two walls 5 diverge from each other from the central area towards theexternal limit, opposite with respect to first mentioned walls 4, andthe walls 4,5 are located symmetrically around a common plane ofsymmetry. The walls 6 and 7 are located between the walls 4 across fromsaid plane of symmetry. Further cross walls may optionally be placedoutside the walls 4 for further sectioning the volume of the bag, e.g.as indicated in dotted lines 6′,7′ in FIGS. 3 and 4. The frame issurrounded by a rigid sheath or a soft or a semi-soft sheath 8. Thesheath 8, being indicated by dotted lines, is secured conveniently tothe frame. The walls 4,5,6,7 (and the optional further cross walls)limit, together wit the sheath 8 and the bottom part 2, a number ofrooms or pockets for storing golf clubs or other items. The centralpocket serves for receiving a club with a relatively short handle, e.g.a putter, for a purpose to be explained infra under reference to FIGS. 6and 7.

The bottom part is, in the indicated embodiment, formed as three cups9,10,11 being reciprocally connected by an upper edge ring 12 and a hubpart 13 which between their respective side walls include spaces whichin their orientation and dimensions correspond to spokes 14, and the hub15 in the demountable wheels 16 of the bag (FIG. 5). The height of thewalls in the cups 9–11 is twice the width of the wheels 16. The twowheels of the bag will thus, in their demounted mode, be pushed insidethe bottom part 2 of the bag with spokes and hub housed in the spacesbetween the cups 9–11 in the bottom part.

According to the invention the frame is, from the opening and towardsthe bottom, equipped with leads or channels 17, 18, respectively, for aextendable/retractable handle 19, or for receiving a wheel strut 20 inthe demounted mode.

The lead 17 for the extendable/retractable handle 19 may run from thetop ring element 1 and well past the intermediate ring element 3,whereas the leads 18 for the wheels 20 may run from the top ring element1 to the intermediate ring element 3. Immediately below the lower orinner end of the strut leads 18, there is located mainly radiallyextending leads 21 running from the outer circumference of theintermediate ring element and inwards along the walls 5, and serve forreceiving one end of each wheel support 20, whereas the wheels 16 of thebag with their hubs 15, may be detachably mounted on pins at theopposite end of the supports/struts 20.

The handle of the golf bag may preferably be located at the apex of thegolf bag when the bag is placed in a reclined position with an angle tothe ground, optionally when the golf bag is used as a pullcart. In thisposition the handle will be located diagonally opposite the wheels ofthe golf bag or the wheels of the frame, or will be located opposite thebraces of the golf bag. By placing the handle in this position it isachieved the advantage the handle may be made smaller, and the handlemay also be equipped with a plastic sheet or tarpaulin for protectingthe golf clubs inside the bag against precipitation such as rain orsnow. However, the handle may also be placed at any other convenientlocation, e.g. at the sides of the golf bag or optionally also as anaddition to the frame to which the golf bag is mounted.

At the bottom or innermost in the central room being formed between thewalls 4,5,6,7, there is present a somewhat narrowed passage 22 (FIG. 6)towards the hub part 13 in the bottom part 2 for positioning a releaseelement 23 (FIG. 7). When mounting the wheels 16 onto the cups in thebottom part 2, the hub part 15 of the wheels pushes the release element23 backwards. When releasing the wheels 16 from the bottom part 2, therelease element 23 is pushed out by using the handle of a golf club,e.g. a putter, a collar 23 on the release element, by acting on the edgeof the narrowed opening 22, preventing the release element to be pushedtoo far out.

In an alternative embodiment the golf bag according to the invention (oralso a conventional golf bag comprising a rigid frame and a soft,semi-soft or stiff sheath and being equipped with a securing loop for acarrier strap) is equipped with at least one and preferably twoextendable supporting legs being secured with a hinge to the bag or theframe. The supporting legs may include a resilient element, e.g. aspring, extending the legs and being secured by the fastening loop forthe carrier strap for being pulled against the bag when operating thecarrier strap. What mainly is characterising for this embodiment of theinvention is that the supporting leg or legs is/are connected to thesecuring loop for the carrier strap through a wire or similar elementwhich is led mainly diametrically or cordially through the upper part ofthe bag. In an alternative embodiment the securing loop is elongatedwith mutually parallel branches. Between the two branches of thesecuring loop there is place a glider whereto the wire is secured. Thisglider is designed for a sliding movement back and forth between the twoparallel branches of the securing loop for loosening and tightening ofthe wire.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, these figures show a schematic sideview of the opening part of a golf bag with extendable supporting legsand a securing loop for a carrier strap, with the legs in a indrawnrespective extended position.

FIG. 13 shows a frontal view of a securing loop with a glider fortightening the collecting wire for the supporting legs, whereas FIGS. 14and 15 show a side view of the securing loop in FIG. 13 with the gliderin each of the first and second positions, respectively.

On a golf bag in the form of a rigid sheath or in the form of a softerholster with a rigid frame, there is at the top opening 1′ of the bag,indicated with a dotted line, on one end arranged a securing loop 2′ fora carrier strap (not shown), and on the opposite side from the hingesecuring point there are located two supporting legs 3′. When said legsare folded out from the bag, they will provide an adequate support for abag standing in an inclined position. To prevent the supporting legsfrom spreading outwards when the bag is carried, the supporting legs 3′are connected by e.g. a wire to the carrying loop 2′ for the carrierstrap, so that the supporting legs 3′ are retracted towards the body ofthe bag when the bag is lifted by the carrier strap since the wire thenwill draw the legs in towards the bag body. The wire 4′ extends mainlydiametrically or cordially through the upper part of the bag. When thebag again is placed on the ground, the legs may manually be extended orby there being placed a spring device 31′ between the bag and the legs,e.g. in connection with the legs' hinges 32′. For preventing the legs 3′from unintentionally being extended from the bag, e.g. during transport,it is convenient to provide e.g. a Velcro-strap on the bag near the freeend of the support legs in their retracted, non-operative position.

The securing loop 2′ for the carrier strap is conveniently, as shown inmore detail in FIGS. 13–15, formed elongated with reciprocally parallelbranches 21′ between an outer, curved securing part 22′ for the carrierstrap, and an inner end where the securing loop is hinged, at 22′, tothe opening part 1′ of the bag. Between the two mutually parallelbranches 21′ there is mounted a glider 5′ to which the wire 4′ issecured for displacement between an outer position where the wire 4′through operating the securing loop 2′ may be loosened for extending thesupporting legs 3′, and an inner position where the wire is tightenedwhereby the legs are withdrawn in towards the bag and wherein the glider5′ may be locked with respect to the securing loop 2′. In the shownembodiment the glider is formed by two parts 51′,52′ being mutuallyhinged at 53′ about an axis running across the parallel branches 21′ ofthe securing loop 2′, and so that the outer part 51′ of the glider 5′ inthis locking position, lies along the inner part of the glider betweenand in locking position with the two parallel branches 21′ of thesecuring loop, whereas the external glider part 51′, when the glider isto be liberated, is turned outwards about the hinge 53′ and out fromattachment to the securing loop branches 21′, whereby the glider may bedisplaced with respect to the securing strap.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for use in a golf bag, comprisinga frame and at least one wheel (16) demountably coupled to the frame,the wheel (16) including a hub (15) and an arrangement of spokes (14)intersecting the hub (15), the frame including a bottom part (2) having:a plurality of adjacent cups (9, 10, 11), each cup having a sidewall;and a space separating sidewalls of the adjacent cups (9, 10, 11), thespace being shaped for receiving therein the hub (15) and thearrangement of spokes (14) in the at least one wheel (16).
 2. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises at least one slide (18)extending along the frame and a strut (20) demountably received in theat least one slide (18) for demountably attaching the at least one wheel(16) thereto.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame issubstantially rigid and is surrounded by a sheath or holster (8).
 4. Thedevice of claim 3 wherein the frame further comprises a plurality ofwalls (4, 5, 6, 7) extending in a direction substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis of the frame in an interior of the frame to form apocket in the interior of the frame.
 5. The device of claim 1 furtherincluding at least one slide (17) extending along the frame forreceiving a retractable handle (19) therein.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein the frame further comprises at least one guide (21) extending ina direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of theframe, for receiving at least one strut (20) therein.
 7. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the bottom part further includes a passage (22) forreceiving an expelling element (23) therein for expelling the hub (15)and the arrangement of spokes (14) received in the space.
 8. The deviceof claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to the golf bagdiagonally opposite the at least one wheel.
 9. A device for use in agolf bag, comprising a frame and at least one wheel (16) demountablycoupled to the frame, the wheel (16) including a hub (15) and anarrangement of spokes (14) intersecting the hub (15), the frameincluding a bottom part (2) having: a plurality of adjacent cups (9, 10,11), each cup having a sidewall; and a space separating sidewalls of theadjacent cups (9, 10, 11), the space being shaped for receiving thereinthe hub (15) and the arrangement of spokes (14) in the at least onewheel (16), wherein the arrangement of spokes (14) intersects the hub(15) of the at least one wheel (16) to form a “Y”-shape, and the spaceseparating the sidewalls of the adjacent cups (9, 10, 11) forms acomplementary “Y”-shape for receiving the hub (15) and the arrangementof spokes (14) therein.
 10. A device for use in a golf bag, comprising aframe and at least one wheel (16) demountably coupled to the frame, thewheel (16) including a hub (15) and an arrangement of spokes (14)intersecting the hub (15), the frame including a bottom part (2) having:a plurality of adjacent cups (9, 10, 11), each cup having a sidewall; aspace separating sidewalls of the adjacent cups (9, 10, 11), the spacebeing shaped for receiving therein the hub (15) and the arrangement ofspokes (14) in the at least one wheel (16); and a passage (22) forreceiving an expelling element (23) therein for expelling the hub (15)and the arrangement of spokes (14) received in the space.